Liner hanger apparatus



1965 H, H. FISHER, JR.. ETAL 3,216,503

LINER HANGER APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. EPA/w H 551/52, JP. mLL/A'M 0. Mme/es 5r.

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1965 H. H. FISHER, JR., ETAL 3,216,503

LINER HANGER APPARATUS United States Patent 3,216,503 LINER HANGER APPARATUS Hiram H. Fisher, Jr., and William I). Myers, Houston, Tex., assignors to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 276,434 19 Claims. (CL 166116) The present invention relates to subsurface well bore ap aratus, and more particularly to apparatus for hanging liners, and the like, from the lower portion of well casing disposed in well bores.

Heretofore, liners have been run in well casing and anchored to the latter at a desired point therein by means of a hanging apparatus connected to and actually forming part of the upper portion of the liner. Because of the necessity for the hanging apparatus to include parts for performing the anchoring function, and also a packing function where a seal between the liner and casing is desired, the bore through the hanging apparatus is restricted, limiting the size of liner connected to it. In addition, a difierent size liner hanging apparatus becomes necessary for different internal diameters of well casing from which the liner is to be anchored, increasing inventory requirements and costs to the manufacturer and distributor of the equipment.

An object of the present invention is to provide liner hanging apparatus that enables a larger size liner to be run in and anchored to a given size casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide liner hanging apparatus for anchoring a liner in the Well casing, which enables different diameter liners to be hung in a given size casing through use of one size of hanging apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liner apparatus adapted to provide a seal between the liner and the casing, in which a greater quantity of packing material is available for effecting the seal between the liner and casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liner apparatus adapted to provide a seal between the liner and the casing, in which there is greater assurance against extrusion of the packing or sealing material between the liner and casing.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through a well casing embodying liner hanger apparatus, with its parts in their initial position prior to running of the liner in the casing;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, with the liner run in the well casing and prior to anchoring of the liner thereto;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 disclosing the liner anchored and in sealed or packed-01f relation with respect to the surrounding Well casing;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 44 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 66 on FIG. 2.

As disclosed in the drawings, a string of casing A extends to the top of a well bore in which the casing is disposed, this casing usually having previously been appropriately cemented, or otherwise secured, in place in the well bore. The lower portion of the casing contains a liner hanger apparatus B embodied in a casing collar, or tubular body member 10, that connects upper and lower casing sections 11, 12 in spaced relation. A liner C (FIG. 2) is lowered down through the casing string A on a suitable running-in string, such as a string of tubing D, extending to the top of the well bore, the upper portion of the liner being adapted to be disposed and set within the collar 10. More specifically, the liner can be anchored in the well casing A, or suspended therefrom. A seal can be provided between the liner and well casing, or the liner can be both anchored and packed off with respect to the well casing.

As shown, the body 10 of the liner hanger apparatus is constituted as a composite tubular structure, including a lower tubular member 13 having a lower threaded pin portion 14 threadedly secured to a casing section 12 (not shown) therebelow. The tubular member section 13 has a threaded boX 15 threaded onto the exterior of an upper section 16 having a threaded box portion 17 to receive a depending threaded pin 18 on an upper section of casing 11, the casing string A extending to the top of the well bore. An elongate annular recess or groove 19 is formed within the lower tubular member 13 between its lower shoulder 20 and the lower end 21 of the upper section. Contained Within this annular groove or recess 19 are the parts for anchoring the liner C in the well casing and for elfecting a seal between the liner and the well casing. The initial internal diameters of all of the parts within this recess are no less than the nominal inside diameter of the casing string sections 11, 12 both above and below the tubular body structure 10. The tubular body structure itself has a nominal inside diameter that is no less than the inside diameter of the casing sections.

A seal between the liner and casing is provided by a packing structure 22 that includes a pliant, elastic packing sleeve 23 of rubber-like material, the exterior of which engages the inner wall 24 of the tubular member 10. The lower end of this packing sleeve or element engages a lower thrust ring 25 which has a lower, inner tapered surface 26 engaging a companion tapered surface 27 on the upper ring 28 of a packing extrusion preventing device 29. The upper ring 28 is split and is adapted to contract and bear against a lower split extrusion preventing ring 30 having a tapered surface 31 engaging a companion tapered surface 32 on the tubular member 10. The two rings 28, 30 are interconnected for joint expansion and contraction by a circular rib 33 on the lower ring received within a companion circular groove 34 on the upper ring. The split extrusion preventing rings 28, 30 have their splits out of phase with one another, so that there is no straight-through longitudinal passage through both rings. The inner surfaces 35 of the rings are cylindrical and initially do not project within the well casing A beyond its nominal inside diameter.

The upper portion of the packing element 23 engages an upper thrust ring 36 having an upper tapered surface 37 engaging a companion tapered surface 38 on the lower ring 39, of an upper extrusion preventing device 40, that bears against an upper extrusion preventing ring 41. These rings 39, 41 are the same as the lower set of rings, having splits that are out of phase with one another, which, for example, may be degrees, and being connected together for joint lateral movement or contraction by a circular rib 42 on one of the rings being received within a companion circular groove 43 in the other ring. The outer surface 44 of the upper ring is inclined in an upward and inward direction, engaging a companion tapered surface 45 at the lower end or corner of an expander 46 slidably mounted in the tubular member and along its wall 24. Fluid leakage between the expander 46 and the tubular member may be prevented by a Suitable seal ring 47 mounted in the expander and slidable along the tubular member wall.

The upper inner portion 48 of the expander 46 is tapered in an upward and outward direction, engaging a companion tapered surface 49 on a slip sleeve 50 which may be formed in one piece, or in segments, the split 51 of the sleeve being suflicient to permit substantial sleeve contraction. As shown, the slip sleeve has inner teeth 52 facing in an upward direction and is also provided with circumferentially spaced longitudinal weakening grooves 53 therein which facilitate contraction of the slip sleeve when the latter is moved downwardly along the tapered expander 46, and which also provides weakened sections 54 at which the sleeve may break into segments (if it is not previously segmented) to enable the slips to move inwardly and their teeth 52 into gripping engagement with a portion of the liner, as explained hereinbelow.

A setting sleeve 55 is disposed in the upper portion of the recess 19, being slidable along the inner wall 24 of the tubular member, this setting sleeve being held initially in its upper position by one or a plurality of shear screws 56 securing it to the upper section 16 of the tubular body 10. The setting sleeve has a plurality of lock recesses 57 and a lower locating recess 58, the upper ends 59 of the lock recesses or grooves being tapered in an upward and inward direction; whereas, the lower ends 60 of these recesses or grooves are disposed normal to the axis of the apparatus. The locating recess 58 has tapered upper and lower walls 61.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, inclusive, the liner C can be lowered down through the casing A on a tubing string D extending to the top of the well bore. The lower end of this tubing string is threadedly connected to a coupling or collar 63, which, in turn, is threadedly connected to the upper body section 64 of a running-in and releasing tool E, this upper body section being threaded to a lower section 65, there being a suitable seal ring 66 on the sections adapted to seal within a liner hanging collar or body 67 constituting the upper end of the liner string C. The

lower pin end 68 of the liner body is threadedly connected to a collar 69, which, in turn, is threadedly attached to a liner section (not shown) therebelow, such liner section, in turn, being suitably connected, in a known manner, to other liner sections therebelow, that constitute the desired length of liner C to be hung from the casing A. The running-in tool E is threadedly connected to the upper end of the liner body 67 by a nut 70 bearing against a body shoulder 71 and threadedly connected to the upper threaded box 72 of the liner body. This threaded connection is preferably left hand, enabling rotation of the tubing string D and running-in tool E to the right to unscrew the nut 70 from the threaded box 72, the rotation being transmitted through a key 73 fixed to the nut and slidable in a keyway 74 on the running-in tool body, the nut being capable of feeding upwardly along the running-in tool body 63.

Carried by the liner hanging collar or body 67 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending shifting dogs 80 disposed in a circumferential groove 81 formed in the upper portion of the liner body. These shifting dogs have locking projections 82 conforming to the lock recesses or grooves 57 of the setting sleeve and locating and guiding projections 83 conformed in shape to the lower locating recess 58 of the setting sleeve 55. Thus, the lock portions 82 have tapered upper surfaces 84 conforming to the tapered upper ends 59 of the lock grooves 57 and transverse lower shifting surfaces 85 adapted to engage the lower ends 60 of the setting sleeve grooves. The guiding and locating projections or portions 83 of the shifting dogs have upper and lower tapers 86 4.- conforming to the upper and lower tapers 61 of their companion groove 58 in the setting sleeve.

The shifting dogs are urged in an outward direction by a plurality of helical compression springs 87 disposed in sockets 88 in the dogs and bearing against the base of the circumferential groove 81. Lateral or radial outward movement of the dogs is limited by engagement of their upper terminals 89 with an upper retaining skirt portion 90 of the liner hanging body 57 and by engagement of their lower terminals 91 with the upward projecting retaining skirt 92 of a two-piece retaining ring 93 having an inwardly projecting flange 94 received within a companion groove 95 in the liner body 67, the ring 93 being held in place by a plurality of screws 96 threaded into the hanging body. Actually, the retaining ring 93 constitutes part of the liner body 67 itself, being made separate therefrom for convenience in assembling the shifting dogs 80 and springs 87 in the body groove 81'.

The shifting dogs 80 have a length such that they will bridge coupling spaces in the casing string A during lowering of the liner in the well casing and will not shift outwardly thereinto. It is only when the dogs 80 come opposite the shifting sleeve 55 that they can move out into the recesses or grooves 57, 58 and be coupled to the sleeve 55.

The liner hanging collar or body 67 has an external peripheral surface 67a of cylindrical shape and extended length which is substantially greater than the initial distance between the upper end of the slip member 50 and the lower shoulder 20 on the tubular member, so that the slips 50 and packing structure 22 can be shifted laterally inwardly or contracted against such surface. Of course, the periphery 67a has a diameter slightly less than the nominal inside diameter of the casing string A through which the liner C is run, the shifting dogs 80 being capable of moving inwardly against the force of the expanding springs 87 therebehind substantially fully within the peripheral confines of the liner hanging body 67.

The casing string A is run in the well bore with the liner hanger apparatus B incorporated therein, as disclosed in FIG. 1, in which the slip sleeve 50 is in its outer position, which is also true of the packing structure 22, including its packing element 23 and upper and lower sets of extrusion preventing rings 39, 41 and 28, 30. Suitable devices, such as drilling bits (not shown), and the like, can be lowered and elevated within the casing string for the purpose of drilling a well bore below the casing. When it is desired to run the liner C in the casing, it is made up of a suitable length, with its upper portion being constituted by the liner hanging body 67, and this body is releasably and threadedly secured to the runningin tool E by the coupling nut 70, the running-in tool being secured to the tubing string D by means of which the liner is lowered in the well casing. During such lowering action, the shifting dogs 80 merely slide along the wall of the casing string until they come opposite the lock and locating recesses 57, 58 in the setting sleeve, whereupon they will expand outwardly and preclude further downward movement of the liner C in the casing. Moreover, the location of the shifting dogs in the setting sleeve recesses or grooves locates the peripheral portion 67a of the liner body 67, including its retainer ring 93, Within the slip or anchoring portion 50, 46 and the packing structure 22 of the liner apparatus B, such as disclosed in FIG. 2.

Fluid can now be pumped down through the tubing string D and through the liner C to condition the well bore therebelow, and, if desired, to cement the liner in place, or otherwise perform an operation in the well bore in connection with the liner. During downward pumping of fluid through the tubing string, fluids in advance thereof can move down around the lower portion of the liner C and upwardly around the liner and between the liner C and casing A, through the annular space between the liner hanging body 67 and the packing and anchoring portions of the hanger apparatus B, for continued upward movement through the tubing-casing annulus 100 thereabove to the top of the well bore.

When the liner C is to be anchored in packed-off condition with respect to the casing, the tubing string D is slacked off, which permits the weight of the liner C to move the liner hanging body 67 and the keys 80 downwardly, such downward force being transmitted to the setting sleeve 55, and shearing the screws 56 releasably retaining the setting sleeve to the outer tubular structure of the well casing A. As the setting sleeve 55 moves downwardly, it shifts the slip sleeve 50 and expander 46 downwardly to shorten the packing structure 22, as well as the rubber or rubber-like packing sleeve 23, contracting the packing sleeve and shifting it inwardly into sealing engagement with the periphery 67a of the liner hanging body 67. Following such sealing engagement against the periphery of the body, the sleeve 55 continues to move downwardly along the tubular member wall 24 to shift the slip sleeve 50 downwardly along the expander 46 which will urge the slip sleeve inwardly and embed its teeth 52 into the surface or periphery 67a of the liner hanging body, or, as specifically disclosed, the retaining ring portion 93 thereof. If the weight of the liner C is sutficient, or if additional downward force is imposed through the tubing string D on the liner hanging body 67 and sleeve 55, the expander 46 will shift downwardly along the wall 24 of the tubular member to a further extent, further shortening the packing sleeve 23 and compressing it between the inner wall of the tubing member and the periphery 67a of the liner hanging body, the lower thrust ring 25 and the lower tapered surface 32 of the tubular member 10 contracting the lower extrusion preventing rings 28, 30 into snug engagement with the periphery 67a of the liner hanging body, and the expander 46 and upper thrust ring 36 shifting the upper extrusion preventing rings 39, 41 inwardly into snug engagement with the periphery of the liner hanging body, the upper and lower extrusion preventing rings bridging the annular spaces 101 between the upper and lower thrust rings 36, 25 and body 67 and preventing extrusion or squeezing of the rubber or rubber-like packing material beyond the extrusion preventing rings.

During its inward movment, the slip sleeve 50 may break into segments at its weakened sections 54, the teeth 52 digging into the periphery of the liner hanging body 67, the weight of the liner C tending to shift the slip sleeve structure 50 downwardly of the expander, and wedging the teeth to a still greater extent into the liner hanging body. The weight of the suspended liner C continues to act through the slips 50 and expander 46 on the packing structure 22 to insure the retention of the packing element 23 in sealed engagement against the periphery 67a of the liner hanging body and the tubular member 10 of the casing.

The tubing string D and running-in tool E can now be released by rotating the tubing string, this rotary motion being transmitted through the running-in tool body 64 and key 73 to the coupling nut 70, the latter being unthreaded from the box portion 72 of the liner hanging body 67, while its key slides upwardly in the keyway or groove 74 of the running-in tool body. After complete unthreading of the coupling nut 70 from the liner hanging body 67, the tubing string D and running-in tool E can be elevated in the well casing A and removed completely therefrom.

With the liner hanger apparatus disclosed, liners with larger effective internal diameters can be run in and hung in the casing. It is to be noted that the slips 50 and packing structure 22 are not mounted on the liner hanging body 67, but are initially contained within the casing string A itself. As a result, the passage 105 through the liner hanging body 67 can be made much greater than heretofore, which allows larger diameter liner sections to be used therebelow. In addition, difierent size liners can be hung from the casing without requiring different sizes of liner hanging apparatus. All that is required is that the liner hanging body or collar 67 have the appropriate external diameter for engagement by the contractable slips 50 and the contractable elements of the packing structure 22. The fact that the packing sleeve 23 contracts into engagement with the liner hanging body 67 means that there is a lesser annular space between the initial inside diameter of the packing sleeve 23 and the periphery 67a of the liner hanging body to be filled by packing material than if the same radial gap were required to be occupied by an outwardly expanding type of packing sleeve. Thus, more packing material is available to secure a pack off or seal between the liner hanging body 67 and the casing A. In the apparatus illustrated, the extrusion preventing devices are also more effective, since the splits or gaps between the ends of each ring close, rather than open, during their inward movement or contraction into engagement with the periphery 67a of the liner hanging body, for the purpose of fully bridging the gaps 101 between the thrust rings and the liner hanging body through which the packing material might tend to cold flow or extrude.

We claim:

1. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member and shiftable inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and means for shifting said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member.

2. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a Well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; laterally movable anchoring means in said tubular member; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member and gripping means; and means for shifting said anchoring means inwardly into gripping engagement with said liner hanging member.

3. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; packing means in said tubular member; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member and packing means; and means for shifting said packing means into sealing engagement with said liner hanging member.

4. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a Well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; packing means in said tubular member; laterally movable gripping means in said tubular member; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member, packing means, and gripping means; and means for shifting said packing means and gripping means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member.

5. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a Well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member and shiftable inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; means engageable with said laterally movable means and including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member to shift said later ally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and means for moving said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

6. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; laterally movable anchoring means in said tubular member; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member and anchoring means; means engageable with said anchoring means and including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member to shift said anchoring means inwardly into anchoring engagement with said liner hanging member; and means for moving said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

7. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; packing means in said tubular member; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member and packing means; means engageable with said packing means and including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member to shift said packing means inwardly into sealing engagement with said liner hanging member; and means for moving said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

8. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; packing means in said tubular member; laterally movable anchoring means in said tubular member; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member, packing means and anchoring means; means for shifting said packing means and anchoring means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member, including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member; and means for moving said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

9. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion, said tubular member having a circumferential groove therein; inwardly shiftable means in said groove free from restricting the passage through the casing string; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member and inwardly shiftable means; and means for shifting said means inwardlv into engagement with said liner hanging member.

10. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion, said tubular member having a circumferential groove therein; slip means in said groove; an expander in said groove engaging said slip means; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member Within said tubular member, slip means and expander; and means for relatively moving said slip means and expander to shift said slip means inwardly into gripping engagement with said hanging member.

11. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion, said tubular member having 'a circumferential groove therein; slip means in said groove; an expander in said groove engaging said slip means; packing means in said groove engaging said expander; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string toposition said liner hanging member with said tubular member, slip means, expander and packing means; and means for shifting said slip means downwardly of said expander and said expander downwardly against said packing means to shift said slip means and packing means inwardly against said liner hanging member.

12. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; slip means in said tubular member; an expander in said tubular member engaging said slip means; packing means in said tubular member engaging said expander; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member, slip means, expander and packing means; and means for moving said slip means downwardly of said expander and said expander downwardly against said packing means to shift said slip means and packing means inwardly against said liner hanging member.

13. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; packing means in said tubular member; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member and packing means; means for shifting said packing means into sealing engagement with said liner hanging member; said packing means including a pliant, elastic member, and extrusion preventing instrumentalities shiftable inwardly against said liner hanging member to prevent extrusion of said pliant, elastic member between said liner hanging member and said shifting means.

14. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said cas ing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member and shiftable inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and means operatively associated with and operated by said liner hanging member for shifting said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member.

15. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member and shiftable inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and means operatively associated with and responsive to manipulation of said lowering means for shifting said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member.

16. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bore to constitute part of the casing string; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered in the casing string to a position within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member and shiftable inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; means engageable with said laterally movable means and including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member to shift said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and laterally movable shifting means on said liner hanging member adapted to be coupled to said setting member to move said setting member downwardly along said tubular mem ber.

17. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the Well bore to constitute part of the casing string; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered on a running-in string in the casing string to a position within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member and shiftable inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; means engageable with said laterally movable means and including a setting member slidably downwardly along said tubular member to shift said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and laterally movable shifting means adapted to be coupled to said setting member and responsive to movement of the running-in string in the well casing to move said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

18. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bore to constitute part of the casing string; a pliant, elastic packing element in said tubular member; an expander in said tubular member above said packing element; slip means in said tubular member above and engaging said expander; a setting sleeve in said tubular member above and engaging said slip means; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered on a running-in string in the casing string to a position wherein said slip means, expander and packing element; laterally shiftable dogs on said liner hanging member adapted to be coupled to said setting sleeve to transmit downward movement of said liner hanging member to said setting sleeve to move said slip means downwardly along said expander and said expander downwardly along said tubular member to shift said slip means and packing element inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member,

19. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bore to constitute part of the casing string; a pliant, elastic packing element in said tubular member; an expander in said tubular member above said packing element; slip means in said tubular member above and engaging said expander; a setting sleeve in said tubular member above and engaging said slip means; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered on a running-in string in the casing string to a position within said slip means, expander and packing element; laterally shiftable dogs on said liner hanging member adapted to be coupled to said setting sleeve to transmit downward movement of said liner hanging member to said setting sleeve to move said slip means downwardly along said expander and said expander downwardly along said tubular member to shift said slip means and packing element inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; packing extrusion preventing means in said tubular member between the lower portion of said packing element and tubular member; extrusion preventing means in said tubular member between the upper portion of said packing element and said expander; both of said extrusion preventing means being shiftable inwardly toward said liner hanging member upon downward move ment of said setting sleeve in said tubular member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,079,689 11/13 Bowler et a1 166-115 1,079,690 11/13 Bowler et al. 166115 2,017,451 10/35 Wickersham 285 2,593,725 4/52 Brown 285144 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN COMBINATION: A CASING STRING DISPOSED IN AN EXTENDING TO THE UPPER PORTION OF A WELL BORE, SAID CASING STRING INCLUDING A TUBULAR MEMBER IN ITS LOWER PORTION; A LINER INCLUDING A LINER HANGING MEMBER; MEANS FOR LOWERING SAID LINER WITHIN SAID CASING STRING TO POSITION SAID LINER HANGING MEMBER WITHIN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER; LATERALLY MOVABLE MEANS IN AND CARRIED BY SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SHIFTABLE INWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LINER HANGING MEMBER; AND MEANS FOR SHIFTING SAID LATERALLY MOVABLE MEANS INWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LINER HANGING MEMBER. 